STEVE SISOLAK Governor STATE OF NEVADA NEVADA DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS SERVICES 6630 S. McCarran Blvd., Bldg. C, Suite 204 Reno, Nevada 89509 (775) 688-1653 • Fax (775) 688-1656 Report to the Veteran Community on the 80th Legislative Session Fulfilling the Requirements of Assembly Bill 62 (2015) Provided by the Director of the Nevada Department of Veterans Services September 1, 2019 1. Introduction: This memorandum provides a full legislative report to the veteran community as required by NRS 417.103. This report, and future editions of the report, are intended to provide information regarding veterans legislation to the veteran community, and, over time, to establish a history of legislation introduced, passed, or considered that can be referenced in future policy discussions. NRS 417.103 requires the Director of the Nevada Department of Veterans Services (NDVS) to provide this report no later than September 1 following each regular session of the Legislature, and requires that the report provide details on the following: • A description of each newly enacted statute by the Legislature which affects veterans in this State. • A description of each bill, or portion of a bill, newly enacted by the Legislature that appropriates or authorizes money for veterans, or otherwise affects the amount of money that is available for veterans' services, including, without limitation, each line item in a budget for such an appropriation or authorization. • A brief plan by the Director, NDVS for carrying out duties required by newly passed legislation. • The date on which each statute and bill described in the memorandum becomes effective. 2. Background: a. For decades, NDVS has coordinated the efforts of Nevada’s veterans community events by convening legislative meetings and councils to: (1) gather issues important to veterans that could be considered for a legislative bill draft request (BDR), and (2) educate veterans, their families, and their supporters so they might fully participate in the legislative process. The three events traditionally conducted are the Veterans Legislative Symposium, the Veterans Legislative Summit, and Veterans and Military Day at the Legislature. b. During the 77th Legislative Session (2013), the United Veterans Legislative Coalition (later renamed the United Veterans Legislative Council or UVLC) was established by many of Nevada’s veterans service organizations to help create a single voice, where possible, to advocate for veterans legislation. During the 78th Legislative Session, NDVS first partnered with the UVLC to conduct the Veterans Legislative Symposium, the Veterans Legislative Summit, and Veterans and Military Day at the Legislature. Report to the Veteran Community on the 80TH Legislative Session Page 2 c. This partnership continued during the 79th and 80th Legislative Sessions, resulting in a greater appreciation of issues affecting Nevada veterans, active duty, guard and reserve serving in Nevada, and their family members. During the 80th Legislative Session the UVLC Chair was Mr. Tony Yarbrough (Veterans of Foreign Wars Department of Nevada) and UVLC team leaders; Mr. Mitch Roach (American Legion Department of Nevada) and Mr. Andy LePeilbet (Military Order of the Purple Heart). 3. 80TH Legislative Session Events a. Legislative Symposia. Reno: March 24, 2018 at the Washoe County Senior Center and Las Vegas: March 31, 2018 at the Southern Nevada VA Medical Center in North Las Vegas. (1) The Legislative Symposia served as an opportunity to bring together various perspectives across the veteran community and to develop by vote a list of prioritized legislative recommendations. There were 71 veterans present in Reno and 89 in Las Vegas, representing 23 known veterans organizations. Also in attendance were members of the Nevada National Guard, active duty members serving at Nellis Air Force Base, family members, and other supporters. (2) Several members of the Nevada State Legislature participated, making comments and gathering information for potential bills. Present in Las Vegas were Senators David Parks, Joyce Woodhouse, and Pat Spearman, and Assemblypersons Tyrone Thompson, Chris Edwards, Brittany Miller, and Danielle Monroe-Moreno. Present in Reno were Senator Julia Ratti, and Assemblymen Mike Sprinkle and Jim Wheeler. (3) State-wide, 53 recommendations were identified and prioritized; 31 issues in Las Vegas and 24 issues in Reno. (Because two identical issues were identified by both symposia, the combined state-wide list details 53, rather than 55, total prioritized recommendations.) (4) There were several common state-wide themes that emerged from the recommendations made at both symposia. These themes, in priority order, were: STATE-WIDE THEME 1: Honor and recognize veteran's service by reducing certain state fees and taxes STATE-WIDE THEME 2: Increase veteran service officer and veteran outreach capacity STATE-WIDE THEME 3: Support veteran employment STATE-WIDE THEME 4: Expand suicide prevention support and education STATE-WIDE THEME 5: Support veterans housing initiatives STATE-WIDE THEME 6: Enhance connection to veteran benefits STATE-WIDE THEME 7: Honor veterans service STATE-WIDE THEME 8: Support veterans courts (5) Also developed during the symposia was a consolidated list of 24 items suggested for Congressional consideration. These issues were sent to Nevada’s congressional delegation. Report to the Veteran Community on the 80TH Legislative Session Page 3 (6) A review of the recommendations reveals few "stand-out" issues. This may be because many of the top issues identified in past legislative symposia were successfully passed into statutes. For example, during the 79th Legislative Session, there were three issues that garnered the most votes. This year, the recommendations were more diverse and were characterized by some as, "all over the board." Nonetheless, the state-wide prioritization identified some clear leaders among the recommendations and assisted elected officials develop legislation that both honored the service of our veterans and helped ensure their successful reintegration into Nevada communities. b. 80th Legislative Summits. Las Vegas: January 12, 2019 at the Southern Nevada VA Medical Center in North Las Vegas and Reno: January 26, 2019 at the Washoe County Senior Center (1) The purpose of the summits was to provide an update on the status of the prioritized legislative recommendations developed during the Symposium, a description of bills that had been pre-filed with the Legislative Counsel Bureau, and information about how veterans and veteran supporters can participate in the legislative process. (2) Like the symposia, the summits provided an opportunity for veterans to engage directly with lawmakers and other elected leaders ahead of the Session. Present in Las Vegas were Assemblyman Chris Edwards and Mr. Keith Hightower from the Office of the Governor. Legislative participation in the summit was lower than normal as it fell on the same day as the Pre-Session Nevada Senate Democratic Caucus meeting. Present in Reno were Senator Julia Ratti, Assemblyman Jim Wheeler, and Assemblywoman Benítez-Thompson. c. Veterans and Military Day at the Legislature (VAMDAL). Carson City Capitol and Legislative Complexes: March 20, 2019 (1) VAMDAL, hosted jointly by NDVS, the UVLC, and the Nevada National Guard, provided an opportunity for veterans to talk directly to legislators on legislation important to them and to see a display of Nevada National Guard equipment. The day began with an opening ceremony with keynote comments from Governor Steve Sisolak, and remarks from Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro and Speaker of the Assembly, Assemblyman Jason Frierson. (2) Later in the day, veterans were welcomed as guests into the Senate and Assembly Chambers for a presentation of a Concurrent Resolution naming Nevada a Purple Heart State. Finally, a luncheon for veterans and veteran supporters was provided by the Nevada Department of Veterans Services and served by members of the Nevada National Guard. 4. 80th Legislative Session Bill Overview a. 31 bill draft requests (BDRs) supporting veterans, military, and their families were assigned a bill. 20 important Veterans bills were signed into law by Governor Sisolak, and 11 bills failed by the Legislative deadline. While the number of bills signed falls slightly short of the 79th Session’s 26 bills, there were fewer issues identified that had broad veteran community consensus during the 2018 Veterans Legislative Symposia. b. Each one of the state-wide themes identified in the 2018 Legislative Symposia were addressed through 17 of the 20 bills that the Governor signed, or through the passage of Governor Sisolak’s SFY 21-22 Budget as shown here. Details of each of the bills shown below are in Paragraph 5 of this report: Report to the Veteran Community on the 80TH Legislative Session Page 4 THEME 1: Reducing fees and taxes: AB 487, SB 201 THEME 2: Increase veteran service officer (VSO)/outreach capacity: AB 11, AB 28, Governor’s Budget for additional VSO’s for Fallon and Pahrump, and for a Women Veteran VSO THEME 3: Support veteran employment: AB 89, AB 427, AB 429, SB 100 THEME 4: Expand suicide prevention support/education: AB 300, AB 478, SB 482 THEME 5: Support veterans housing initiatives: AB 174, Governor’s Budget for operation of the new Northern Nevada State Veterans Home THEME 6: Enhance connection to veteran benefits: AB 11, AB 12, AB 28, AB 300, AB 342, Governor’s Budget for supporting Adopt-a-Vet Dental THEME 7: Honor veterans